Rita Verreos

Last updated

Rita Verreos
Born (1968-07-19) July 19, 1968 (age 56)
OccupationTelevision host
Television Survivor: Fiji
HSN
FOX
Telemundo
Jewelry Television

Rita Rosina Verreos (born July 19, 1968) is a Venezuelan actress, model, television host and beauty pageant titleholder. She is most well-known for her participation in Miss Venezuela 1988 and for her appearance on the reality television show Survivor: Fiji .

Contents

Personal life

A native of Venezuela, Verreos moved to San Francisco with her family when she was eight years old. Her father is of Greek descent, while her mother is of Panamanian descent. She attended UC Berkeley before graduating cum laude from the University of California at Los Angeles with a bachelor's degree in Italian and French Literature. [1] She is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society. After graduating from UCLA, she got married and moved to Mexico City to live with her husband and children for eleven years before moving to San Antonio in 2003. She and her husband divorced in 2004. [2]

She currently lives in Miami, Florida.

Rita married actor and producer Carl Mergenthaler on June 8, 2014.[ citation needed ]

Pageants

Verreos was a contestant in the Miss Venezuela 1988 pageant while representing Municipio Vargas, and competed in the 1988 "Reinado Mundial de Banano" pageant in Machala, Ecuador, placing second to Ximena Correa of Ecuador. [3] [4] Verreos has also judged many pageants, including Miss Oklahoma USA, Miss Kansas USA, Miss Hawaiian Tropic San Antonio, Miss, Teen & Mrs. International. She has also coached in many pageants including Miss Texas, Miss California and Miss USA. [2]

Television appearances

Verreos competed in San Antonio magazine Conexión's 2005 "Hottest Latina" contest, placing as second runner-up, and in the CMT reality television program The Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search . [5]

Rita was recruited by Survivor casting director Lynne Spillman at a beauty pageant, and became a contestant on Survivor: Fiji , the 14th season of the series. [6] Her strategy was to draw on her sex appeal to win the show's million dollar prize. [2] She lost 15 pounds during filming, and suffered broken cartilage in her nose. Verreos was the sixth castaway to leave the island. [7]

Verreos was a contestant on the May 29, 2009, episode of The Price is Right . [8] Verreos' television debut was in 2003 as a TV spokesperson for H-E-B, a Texas-based supermarket chain [9] which aired on the Kens 5 (CBS) morning talk show, "Great Day SA."

Verreos has also hosted "En Nuestro Hogar" on Telemundo and Azteca America in San Antonio (June, 2007), acted as a fill-in for the Kens 5 morning news Traffic Anchor (2008), served as a guest host on HSN (2009-2010) and as a "beauty tips expert" on Fox Utilisima's "Hola Martin" (2011), and acted as a fill-in anchor for KVDA Telemundo. She appeared as the TV spokesperson in the World Car TV commercials (Univision, Telemundo, 2008–2014) and infomercials on WOAI (San Antonio). She has appeared in national television commercials for Safelink cellular phones and Bedoyecta Vitamins. She created, produced and hosted the web show Latin Connection (2008-2014), and from 2017 to 2018, she appeared in roles in the Telemundo series Sangre de mí tierra (2017), Al otro lado del muro (2018), and Mi familia perfecta (2018). In 2019 she became one of the few News Anchors presenting and producing newscasts for both Spanish language (Telemundo KXTQ and KASA) and English language (FOX34) networks. Currently she is the first and only TV Show Host on Jewelry Television presenting shows in English and Spanish.

Other

Verreos is a former professional ballerina, [10] and has modeled in Venezuela, Mexico, and Los Angeles, [2] for designers such as Oscar de la Renta and Victor Alfaro. She also appeared in the 1990 film Marked for Death . [11] Rita was the "In Arena" Host at the AT & T Center for the Spurs Organization female basketball team the Silver Stars during the 2010 season. [12] In 2008, she was awarded the "Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment" Award by La Prensa Newspaper. [13] In 2010, Rita won the "Dancing with the Lonestars" Ballroom dancing competition to raise funds for a local charity in San Antonio, TX. [14] In 2011, Rita received the President's Call to Service Award for Lifetime Achievement in Volunteerism for her decade of philanthropic work. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecilia Bolocco</span> Chilean actress, beauty queen and TV host

Cecilia Carolina Bolocco Fonck is a Chilean actress, TV host and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universo Chile 1987 and Miss Universe 1987.

Miss USA is an American beauty pageant that has been held annually since 1952 to select the entrant from United States in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operated both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA, until 2020, when the organization announced it was licensing operation of the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants to Crystle Stewart, Miss USA for 2008 prior to her suspension in October 2022, thus returning the said pageants to the Miss Universe Organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Sarcos</span> Venezuelan television personality

Daniel Enrique Sarcos Cabrera is a Venezuelan actor, stand-up comedian, and television personality best known as the host of Súper Sábado Sensacional from 1997–2009, and the Miss Venezuela pageant from 2004–2009. Both of these shows were broadcast on the Venezuelan television channel, Venevisión. From 2011-2018 he also hosted the morning program Un Nuevo Día on the Telemundo Television network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Verreos</span> American fashion designer

Nick Verreos is an American fashion designer, fashion commentator, former Project Runway contestant, educator and author.

<i>Survivor: Fiji</i> Season of television series

Survivor: Fiji is the fourteenth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor. The season was filmed in the Fiji Islands from October 30 until December 7, 2006, and aired from February 8, 2007, until the two-hour season finale on May 13, 2007, followed by a live reunion from Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, where Earl Cole was named the Sole Survivor over Andria "Dreamz" Herd and Cassandra Franklin in the first unanimous vote of the show's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Universe 1985</span> 34th Miss Universe pageant

Miss Universe 1985 was the 34th Miss Universe pageant, held on 15 July 1985 at the James L. Knight Convention Center in Miami, Florida, United States. Seventy-nine contestants competed in the pageant. Deborah Carthy-Deu of Puerto Rico was crowned by Yvonne Ryding of Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meagan Tandy</span> American actress and model (born 1985)

Meagan Yvonne Tandy is an American actress and model. She is a former Miss California USA who placed as third runner-up at Miss USA 2007. As an actress, she had long running roles in Jane by Design, Teen Wolf, Survivor's Remorse, and recently starred as Sophie Moore on The CW's Batwoman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefanía Fernández</span> Venezuelan model, presenter, and beauty queen

Stefanía Fernández Krupij is a Venezuelan journalist, model and beauty queen who won the Miss Venezuela 2008 and Miss Universe 2009 titles. She earned a Guinness World Records by being the first Miss Universe winner who was crowned by a compatriot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iva Grijalva Pashova</span>

Iva Karlos Grijalva Pashova is a Nicaraguan-Bulgarian actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder. her mother is a Bulgarian and father is Nicaraguan. In 2007 she was one of the 12 contestants of Supermodel Centroamérica, a spin-off from America's Next Top Model. She was crowned Miss Earth Nicaragua 2007, and competed in the Miss Earth 2007 pageant but was unplaced. In 2008 she was Nicaragua's entry in the 'World Queen of Banana' pageant held in Machala, Ecuador. Again she was unplaced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss World 2010</span> Beauty pageant edition

Miss World 2010, the 60th anniversary of the Miss World pageant, was held on 30 October 2010 at the Crown of Beauty Theatre in Sanya, China after Vietnam backed out of the hosting contract. 115 contestants from all over the world competed for the crown. Kaiane Aldorino of Gibraltar crowned her successor Alexandria Mills of the United States at end of the event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greidys Gil</span> Cuban actress (born 1980)

Greidys Zaldívar is a Cuban actress, television host, model and beauty queen. Gil became a contestant on the reality show/beauty contest Nuestra Belleza Latina. After weeks of competition and eliminations, Gil won the grand prize of $200,000 and a contract with Univision and earned the title of Nuestra Belleza Latina 2009. She won the challenge of the "50 Mas Bellos" and formed part of the 50 Mas Bellos of the People en Espanol magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuestra Belleza México 2010</span> 17th edition of Nuestra Belleza México beauty pageant

Nuestra Belleza México 2010, the 17th annual Nuestra Belleza México beauty pageant, was held at the Auditorio Parque Las Maravillas in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico on September 25, 2010. The State of Jalisco, won for the third consecutive year with Karin Ontiveros, who later competed in Miss Universe 2011 in Brazil. Ontiveros was crowned by outgoing Nuestra Belleza México titleholder and Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete. She was the fourth Jalisciense to win this Title. Thirty-one contestants of the Mexican Republic competed for the national title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Señorita Panamá 2010</span> Beauty pageant

Señorita Panamá 2010 was the 27th edition of the Señorita Panamá pageant and 44th Miss Panamá pageant selected to the Miss Universe. It was held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ciudad de Panamá, Panama on Thursday 8, July 2010.

Ana Christina Rodriguez is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Laredo, Texas. On her fifth attempt at the statewide title, she was crowned Miss Texas USA 2011 and went on to be named third runner-up to Miss USA 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dalia Fernández</span> Dominican beauty pageant titleholder

Dalia Cristina Fernández Sánchez is a Dominican model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Dominican Republic 2011 and represented the country in the 2011 Miss Universe pageant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Venezuela 2012</span> 59th edition of the Miss Venezuela competition

Miss Venezuela 2012 was the 59th edition of the Miss Venezuela pageant, held at the Salón Naiguatá, Hotel Tamanaco Intercontinental in Caracas, Venezuela, on August 30, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Earth 2014</span> 14th Miss Earth pageant (2014)

Miss Earth 2014, the 14th edition of the Miss Earth pageant, held on November 29, 2014 at the University of the Philippines Theater, inside the campus of the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City, Philippines. Alyz Henrich of Venezuela crowned her successor Jamie Herrell of the Philippines at the end of the event.

Reina Mundial del Banano 2014 is the 30th edition of the traditional contest of Reina Mundial del Banano. It will held in Machala, Ecuador on September 27, 2014. At the end of the event Manou Volkmer, Reina Mundial del Banano 2013 from Germany will crown her successor as Reina Mundial del Banano 2014. 18 contests all around the World will be compete for this title.

Mirka Cabrera is an Ecuadorian model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Ecuador and competed at Miss World 2016.

References

  1. Goodman, Tim (February 7, 2007). "'Lost Finds Its Way. 'Survivor,' Sadly, Does Not". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Communications. p. E1. Retrieved May 18, 2007. Another contestant, Rita Verreos, 42, grew up in San Francisco and went to UC Berkeley for 2 years.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Arispe, Rudy (January 18, 2007). "Fiji Feels the Heat". Conexión. Hearst Corporation. p. 4A. Archived from the original (Fee required) on May 16, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2007.
  3. Rodriguez, Julio (February 5, 2005). "Noticias de Febrero 5, 2005" (in Spanish). Belleza Venezolana.net. Retrieved May 18, 2007. Rita Rosina Verreos (Municipio Vargas) fue enviada a dos eventos. Primero al "Reinado Mundial de Banano 1988", en Machala (Ecuador). Clasificó como virreina. Ganó Ximena Correa (Ecuador). Posteriormente fue Miss San Francisco en el "Nuestra Belleza" en donde figuro como Segunda Finalista. Se regresó a San Francisco, California (USA), donde vivía. En 1993 apareció en Venezuela, como novia del cantante inglés Peter Gabriel. Más nunca
  4. "International Titles and Crowns". Miss Venezuela Organization. 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2007.
  5. Rentería, Melisa (February 15, 2007). "Hot Latinas, Your Time to Shine is Now". Conexión. Hearst Corporation. p. 7A. Archived from the original (Fee required) on May 16, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2007. A finalist in the 2005 Hottest Latina contest, Verreos is a contestant on the reality show 'Survivor: Fiji,' which aired on CBS in 2017. She also has competed in CMT's competitive reality show, 'The Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search.'
  6. Jakle, Jeanne (February 7, 2007). "Survival Skills". San Antonio Express News. Hearst Corporation. p. 1G. Archived from the original (Fee required) on May 16, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2007.
  7. Jakle, Jeanne (March 28, 2007). "'Survivor' Has Advice for Possible Contestants". San Antonio Express News. Hearst Corporation. p. 1G. Archived from the original (Fee required) on May 16, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2007.
  8. Jakle, Jeanne (November 2, 2016). "Drew Carey recalls S.A. woman's 'love tap' on CBS' 'Late Show'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  9. "KENS5 Eyewitness News at 5". San Antonio, Texas. February 8, 2007. CBS. KENS-TV. yes.{{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  10. "San Antonio woman selected for Survivor: Fiji". Dayton Daily News. Cox Enterprises. January 12, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2007. Rita Verreos, 42, a former professional ballerina, is also among the castaways on the South Pacific island. She is the younger sister of Project Runway fashion designer Nick Verreos, so maybe she and Yi discussed haute couture to pass the time.
  11. Scott, A. O. "Rita Verreos - Filmography - Movies - New York Times". New York Times. Retrieved May 18, 2007.
  12. "Rita Verreos". Rita Verreos. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  13. Verreos, Rita (September 9, 2008). "Rita Verreos: Outstading Achievement in Entertainment Award". Rita Verreos. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  14. Verreos, Rita (October 27, 2010). "Winning the 1st Annual "Dancing With the Lonestars!"". Rita Verreos. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  15. Verreos, Rita (May 24, 2012). "Receiving the "Call to Service Award" given by the President of the United States". Rita Verreos. Retrieved April 16, 2018.[ dead link ]